Baltimore Ravens

A record setting 179 million people tuned in to watch the Baltimore Ravens beat the San Francisco 49ers, Beyonce perform during halftime, and even sit through a brief black out period inside the Superdome in New Orleans, according to a survey by the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association.

Super Bowl 42 with the New England Patriots and the New York Giants was the most-watched television show in U.S. history with an estimated 172.5 million viewers in 2008. This year’s game is expected to draw more than that.

The average football fan spent $68.54 specifically for the big game on snacks, jerseys or even new televisions, which is up from the average amount spent in 2012, the survey said. Total spending for the 2013 Super Bowl is said to reach $12.3 billion.

“Gathering with friends and family for the Super Bowl is an American tradition, and this year it seems consumers are in the mood to celebrate, which is good news for retailers who typically see slower online and foot traffic during these months,” said Bill Thorne, senior vice president for the National Retail Federation, in a statement. “As one of the biggest weekends of the year for sports fanatics, we expect to see a variety of promotions in the coming days surrounding appetizers and drinks at restaurants, football décor, athletic apparel and of course, new TVs.”

More than 7.5 million American households bought a new television specifically for the Super Bowl, which is up from the 5.1 million who purchased televisions last year, the survey said. More than 39.4 million people said they hosted a party for the game, whereas 59.9 million fans attended Super Bowl parties on Sunday. About 10.1 million fans watched the game at a restaurant or bar.